Vestibule-directory.



Patented July I, 1902.

x F. 05 SILVA. VESTIBULE DIRECTORY.

(Application filed Apr. 8. 1902.)

(N0 Model.)

'UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

' 'FRANKDE SILVA, or. BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

VESTIBU LE-DIREC TO RY.

' SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 793,560, dated July1, 1902.

Application filed April 8 1902. Serial No. 101,949. (No model.) I

To all whmn it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK DE SILVA, a citi zen of the United States ofAmerica, and a resident of Boston, in the county of Sufiolk and State ofMassachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inVestibule-Directories, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in drectories for bulletinsplacedinrthe vestibulesor halls of commercial blocks, apartment-houses,hotels, &c. to locate .theoffices. and apartments and the occupantsthereof, and it particularly appertains to the class of directorieswhereon are located numerically the floors and alphabetically thenum'bers'and addresses of the various tenants; and the objects 'of myimprovements are, first, to provide a series ofinterchangeableindependent frames, but preferably'united in pairs,which may beaddedtouniformly when an increase of thedirectory is subsequently desired;second, the arrangement of certain name-bean ing tablets alphabeticallywithoutthe necessity of disturbing adjacent frames or obstructing theView thereof; third, the manner ofconfining said tablets Within theglass frontage and against the adjustable backboard embraced by eachframe; fourth, the employment of a secondary backing to regu' late saidadjustable back boardin'propinquity to the glass front, and, in'otheressentials hereinafter enumerated, and especially designated in theclaims. I

A more specific description ofv the remain ing features of myimprovedinvention will be obtained through reference to the drawings,forming part of this specification, where- 1 Figure l is a frontelevation of one of the directories composedoftwo individual frames andglasses united. Fig. 2 represents a rear elevatiouof the same.

ner of adjusting the same. v a fragmentary perspective of one of theback boards to exhibit the attached refiexed retaining edge stripssupporting the name-tablets. Fig. 5 exhibits an aggrouped sectionorganized for reference with one tablet-frame opened to disclose theconstruction of the Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse section of asingleassemblied frame, exhibiting the double backsandfinan- Fig.tillustratesl V plex-beveled glass panels.

back anddisplay the bevels on the longitudinal rear edges of the glasspanels. Fig. (idesignates a vertical transverse section on dashed line 6of Fig 5, and Fig. 7 a horizontal section on dashed line 7 of Fig. 5.

Corresponding letters of reference designate similar features throughoutthe several vicws, referring to 'which A A are right and left framesholding du- These frames are united preferably as at B, or they may behinged at. the top, so asto swing outwardly.

Each of said frames is provide'dwith a recess or rabbet Ccontiguoustothe front to receive and support the glass panels D, whichin ad- "dition to the ornamental bevel around the exterior edgesare-further providedwith a bevel E E at a more acute angle with theplane of the rear surface on each of'the longitudinal, rearside edges FF. (Well observed. in Fig. 2.) -The office of said bevels EE is to form,in connection with the inner facesG G of the side of each frame,trianretaining-surface from the rear side, the threaded members enteringthe fixedback- 'ings K K, which'are firmly secured to the top and bottomof the main frame P,,as at M M, Fig.6, insuring auintcrvening space forthe back board adjustment, said screwsare adjusted from the front of theback boards in the ordinary manner after removing the individualname-plates which conceal the slottedheads. '{ticul'ar' form of adjusting-screws no registering-pins are necessary, as they obviously com-By the employment of this parbine the office of registering andadjusting. This manner of adj ustably confining the back board andbacking also obviates any tendency that may be inherent to warp, andthus become displaced in their relation with said inclosing frames orglass fronts. The adjustable hack boards J J are further provided with aretaining-surface N, adjacent to the rear side of the glass fronts,which may consist of fabric or may be flocked or otherwise produced, theessential character of which is to restrain the tablets 0 from shiftingand to insure a yielding pressure, so as to retain the uniform alinementand surface of the aggrouped name-tablets for inspection. This feature,however, may be replaced by the application of a corresponding surfaceto the under sides of each tablet.

In the practical arrangement of my improved directory, assuming anecessary addition or rearrangement of the lettered or figured tablets,one or more of the frames are unlocked and swung outwardly, permittingaccess to the name-tablets, when any substitution or rearrangement maybe easily and quickly effected by withdrawing the pliable tabletscomprising any flexible material from the refiexed retaining-pieces I Iand without the necessity of rearranging the backings.

In the final arrangement of the aggrouped frames A A they may beinolosed in a cabinet or surrounded by an ornate (glassless) frame P,Fig. 5, which will permit access to the individual sets of panels,sustain them, and impart character to the assemblage.

I am aware that similar directories or bulletins have been heretoforeused, as evidenced in Letters Patent No. 560,878 of May 26, 1896, andothers, wherein the flexible nameplate, the frames supporting them, andthe back boards having a retainingsurface are shown; but I am unaware ofthe use of a bevel formed upon the rearward longitudinal edges of theglass frontage for the purpose defined, the refiexed attached piecessupporting said tablets, a back board that is adjustable from the frontor the fixed backing coacting by the described means to effect theadjustment of the back board with its sustained tablets against theglass frontage. I therefore consider said features as new, and while Ihave described and illustrated the preferred construction I desire notto be confined to the literal interpretation herein dofined, but mayemploy such equivalents therefor as will come within the fair scope andspirit of my invention, which, having thus described,

I claim- 1. In a vestibule or ball directory, the glass panel having abevel formed on each of its longitudinal rearward edges, the adj ustableback board provided with refiexed retaining-strips on their longestedges adjacent to said bevels adapted to support the flexible tablets,and means to regulate the distance of the back boards to or from saidglass panels substantially in the manner specified.

2. A vestibule or hall directory, comprising individual glass panelsprovided with bevels on their rearward longest edges, the adjustableback boards having their longitudinal edges provided with means forretaining te n1- porarily certain name-plates, the fixed backin gcoacting with said adjustable back boards, and means as hereinbeforedescribed to frontally adjust and secure said back boards with theirassembled name-tablets with gentle pressure against the glass frontagesubstantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth. 1

3. In combination, the glass panels provided with bevels on their rearlongitudinal edges, the refiexed retaining-strips lying contiguous tosaid bevels in a manner to collectively or singly sustain thename-tablets, the adjustable back boards adapted to support saidrefiexed strips and means to restrain shifting of said tablets, thefixed backing coacting with the back boards and the adjusting-screwshaving a circular bearing to regulate the distance intervening betweensaid back boards and the rear faces of the glass panels forming thefront of the organized bulletin substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name, in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses, at Boston, Massachusetts, this 5th day ofApril, 1902.

FRANK DE SILVA.

\Vitnesses:

.T. CONVERSE GRAY, E. O. KEANE.

